Parsi Organizations Urge PM Modi to Protect Tata Trusts’ Governance Model
Six prominent Parsi and Zoroastrian organizations have requested Prime Minister Modi to protect the governance model of Tata Trusts in a recent letter.
Six major Parsi and Zoroastrian institutions have sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to safeguard the governance model of Tata Trusts in light of potential organizational changes. The letter, dated October 7, asserts that any push for Tata Sons to go public would undermine one of India’s most reputable institutions.
Signatories to the letter include the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI), and several others that collectively represent a significant portion of the global Parsi community. They emphasize the importance of the Tata Group’s historical contributions to India, highlighting its strong philanthropic tradition.
The ongoing dispute centers on whether Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, should be listed on the stock exchange. The Reserve Bank of India has classified Tata Sons as an upper-layer non-banking finance company and set a deadline for it to go public by September 2025. Currently, Tata Sons and Tata Trusts, which hold roughly 66 percent of Tata Sons, are at odds regarding this issue.
The letter argues against viewing the listing as merely a technical matter. It warns that shifting the balance towards short-term market expectations could jeopardize the core values and mission of the Tata Group. The community’s appeal reflects the long-standing relationship between the Tata family and the national interest, citing the legacy of figures such as Jamsetji Tata and JRD Tata.
BPP chairman Viraf D. Mehta stated, “The Tata name is not the property of any one community. It belongs to every Indian,” emphasizing the need for the government to protect the organization built on trust and public service. Percy Master, global president of WZCC, echoed this sentiment, asserting that prioritizing commercial interests over philanthropy would be detrimental.
FEZANA President Ervad Kayomarz Y. Sidhwa expressed concerns that short-term pressures could threaten the long-term philanthropic focus that distinguishes the Tata ethos. The community’s collective voice is clear: the governance structure of Tata Trusts should remain intact to continue its legacy of service.
